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As I roam through the vast halls of this community that is Lugnet, I am
continually struck with the fact that males members and participants tend to
out number females by a very high margin. This is also reflected in the
ratio of people that in our local Lug, and train club; even Brickswest had a
ratio of at least 4 to 1. So I have been wondering why this is, what is it
about the brick that seems more attractive to males than females.
My first thought is to examine the core differences between what each gender
enjoys more. Last night upon looking for new storage techniques, I came
across several scrap booking sites. This is a hobby that my several women
in my family including my wife enjoy very much, and there is an expo coming
up locally soon. In these expos the ratio is inversely weighted towards
females. In college I majored in English, and was almost always outnumbered
by my female colleges, while my best friend was a history major who saw few
women in his classes. Why do they call romantic comedies “Chick Flicks”? All
these things simply point out that sometimes interests are driven somewhat
by gender.
What bothered me mostly about this though is the fact that during my stint
as a Kay Bee Toys employee, we considered Lego toys to be gender neutral,
and they were kept in the aisle next to the games and puzzles. Hardcore
feminists may disagree with me, but it is commonly considered that G.I. Joe,
He-Man, and toy guns are boys toys, and Barbie, baby dolls, and dress up
stuff are more girls toys. Cars, trains and video games existed in a sort of
gray area, but leaned more toward males than females. Why then would a toy,
which is in most stores retailed as gender neutral, seem to be enjoyed more
by boys than girls?
TLC has made several “outreach” attempts to attract female consumers, but
never really have captured that demographic. I always thought it was a
little insulting that a company would believe that in order to attract girls
you must color everything pink. So I look to all of you to help answer the
question that I cannot, why do are there more male AFOL’s than female.
Please don’t respond with the “I’m a girl and I like Lego” line, I know
there are female fans, I do not discredit your existence, I merely question
why there are not more like you out there in the world.
Scott
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Message has 7 Replies:
 | | Re: Men vs. Women
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| (...) I don't know if it starts when we're young. Thank goodness my sister grew up with her brothers 'casue she was basically a 'tom boy' (old euphimism definging a girl who doesn't do 'girlish things'--archaic to be sure...) and she was with us in (...) (21 years ago, 6-Feb-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Men vs. Women
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| Well, there are two separate but interrelated issues. - Why do more boys play with LEGO toys than girls? - Why do more men play with LEGO toys than women? Some thoughts to contribute towards an answer: - LEGO is a "construction toy". There seems to (...) (21 years ago, 6-Feb-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Men vs. Women
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| (...) This has definitely been something that has been addressed in many places. IIRC there have been several 'presentations'/'open discussions' on the matter at various events and whatnot. I think one issue is that Lego (as you implied) is a little (...) (21 years ago, 6-Feb-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, lugnet.general)
| | | Re: Men vs. Women
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| I'm afraid I'm partially to blame. I added to the boy side of the equation by having a son. If I had a daughter, I would have helped correct the imbalance. :-) I know that sounds flippant, but it's mostly true. While my wife was pregnant, I walked (...) (21 years ago, 6-Feb-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Men vs. Women
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| Something important, even if it does seem off topic: My wife did a study of children's greeting cards. She found that girl's cards emphasized beauty/prettiness, being sweet and nice, and used pastel colors like pink and other light colors. boy's (...) (21 years ago, 6-Feb-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Men vs. Women
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| In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Scott Costello writes: Snip (...) Snip “I’m a girl and I like Lego” predictable I know but it is true. My degree is in physics and I was way outnumbered by blokes as an undergraduate. What I have notice about AFOLs though (...) (21 years ago, 7-Feb-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Men vs. Women
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| I hate to go all "Frank Filz" on you, but isn't this actually on topic? Anyway, I have known women to roll their eyes at my interest in bricks, and women that have instead become intrigued by the idea of playing with them also. I think it just (...) (21 years ago, 7-Feb-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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